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Rugby League chairman accuses rival team of ‘disrespecting’ Challenge Cup

- 18/01/2025 - Rugby League - Betfred Challenge Cup: Round 1 - Waterhead Warriors vs Leigh Miners Rangers - Waterhead Park, Oldham, England - Challenge Cup trophy.

An amateur club’s chairman has accused a rival outfit of “disrespecting” the Betfred Challenge Cup.

Teams from the Conference top-flight – the community game’s flagship competition – were offered automatic entry to the Cup, but round one went ahead without Wath Brow Hornets, who withdrew the week before the competition was due to kick-off.

The Cumbrian side were upset at what they claimed was a lack of preparation time, because of new rules which limit contact in training during pre-season.

In his programme notes for Saturday’s second round tie against Championship Hunslet RLFC, Lock Lane chairman Mick Wildey slammed that decision.

Lane gave a good account of themselves in a 50-10 loss to their south Leeds visitors, having beaten Doncaster Toll Bar by the same score the previous week.

Wildey wrote: “I know there has been a lot said about an NCL side pulling out of the competition a week before the first round. I do think they have disrespected the cup.

“We all had to take up an invite to enter, we all knew the dates, we all knew about the RFL dispensation for returning to play.

“To me, it’s like buying a lottery ticket and asking for your money back when your numbers don’t come out. You pay your money and take your chance.

“[The game against Hunslet] is what the magic of the cup is all about, David v Goliath and I know our coaches, players and backroom staff are relishing the challenge.”

Why Wath Brow withdrew from the Challenge Cup

In a statement on social media announcing their withdrawal, Wath Brow had said: “Pre-Christmas, our head coach raised detailed concerns around player welfare regarding playing Challenge Cup games in very early January.

“The risk of injury greatly personified due to the undoubted lack of preparation time for all amateur clubs.

“The RFL’s own mandate was for non-contact in pre-season up until late February! How they then allow these fixtures is both regrettable but more importantly it is to the detriment of all amateur players in our opinion (again RFL mandate was WE MUST HAVE A LENGTHY OFF SEASON).

“The 2024 season for ourselves was not concluded until mid October & again, your own counsel was to have a longer off season so as to allow players the much needed recovery time (regardless of Challenge Cup entry or not).

“We are extremely concerned about the potential for amateur clubs then playing well-conditioned professional clubs (their pre-season started far earlier & is understandably more intense) & the high risk those fixtures present.

“The actual NCL season does not commence until March & rightly so. These Cup games no longer present the financial rewards that were on offer years ago & in reality often cost amateur clubs. Given the risks highlighted, the actual lack of reward & BY ACTUALLY FOLLOWING THE RFL MANDATORY GUIDANCE, Wath Brow Hornets ARLFC have considered all factors & are withdrawing from the competition.”

In response, the RFL pointed out: “Those community clubs who accepted the invite back in October to enter the Cup were granted an exemption from the usual mandated non-contact period to begin training earlier once the players had had a four-six week break following the end of their 2024 commitments.”

Wath Brow’s place was taken by Castleford-based Cutsyke Raiders, who play in the winter Pennine League competition. They lost in round one to Conference side West Bowling.

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